Means for treating fluid



1944- c. v. SWEARINGEN 2,364,433

MEANS FOR TREATING FLUID Filed May 23, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 b N Nd H 3 CMJ'wear/n en,' Q 3 Q Q m INVENTOR.

Fl BY ATTORNEYS.

c. v. SWEARINGEN MEANS FOR TREATING FLUID Filed May 23, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 -A TTORNEYS.

Ded. 5, 1944.

c. v. SWEARINGEN MEANS FOR TREATING FLUID Filed May 23, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 5, 1944 UNITED STATES PATET OFFICE MEANS FOR TREATING FLUID Clair V. Swearingen, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Application May 23, 1941, Serial No. 394,948

4 Claims.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is an improvement on the means for treating fluid which forms the subject matter of my prior Patent No. 2,237,851, issued on the 8th day of April, 1941.

In the patented'machine, and in the device hereinafter disclosed, a novel means is provided, for treating fluids, a somewhat general statement, which will be understood better as the description proceeds. Novel means is provided for delivering material in predetermined quantities, into a fluid, which may be under greater pressure than atmospheric pressure. Novel mechanism is supplied for controlling the delivery of the material and a novel dispensing device is provided, so far as the actuation thereof is concerned.

The present invention aims to provide novel means whereby the machine may be made to operate without noise, especially insofar as a pawl and ratchet mechanism is concerned. Another object of the invention is to improve the gate which controls the flow of one class of material and to provide means for actuating the gate. A further object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby, at the will of an operator, water and air, or either, may be discharged into the material which is used for treating fluid.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the class described, which is adapted to handle treating material either in the form of a liquid or in a dry form.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows in top plan, a machine constructed in accordance with the invention, the view, strictly speaking, being a section on the line l-| of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the hopper and gate structure and attendant parts;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective illustrating the silencing means, the feed pawl being in the position in which it will assume as it begins a return stroke;

Fig. 6 is a perspective showing a portion of the mechanism delineated in Fig. 5 as it will appear after the'working stroke has been begun.

The frame of the machine comprises a base plate i, on which is secured a prime mover 2, for instance an electric motor. On the base I, a speed reduction gearing 4 is mounted. The initial shaft 5 of the speed reduction gearing is coupled to the shaft of the motor 2, the ultimate shaft 6 of the gearing being provided with a crank 7, the shafts 6 and 5 being arranged at right angles to each other.

Bearing posts 3 and 8 are mounted on the base plate I, adjacent to one end thereof, and in the bearing posts, a driven shaft 9 is journaled for rotation, the shaft 9 being arranged parallel to the shaft 6 of the speed reduction gearing 4.

A radius arm or pawl carrier I0 is mounted to swingvertically on the driven shaft 9, adjacent one end thereof. One end of apitman H is pivoted to the crank arm 1 on the shaft 6 of the speed reduction gearing 4, the opposite end of the pitman being pivoted to the intermediate portion of the radius arm ID. A pawl I2 is pivotally mounted on the radius arm l0 and is adapted to cooperate with a ratchet wheel I, secured to the shaft 9.

For a purpose which will be made manifest hereinafter, a device for adjusting the extent of movement of the ratchet wheel I4 is provided. The said device includes a disk l5, disposed alongside of the ratchet wheel I 4 and mounted for swinging movement, at the will of an operator, on the shaft 9. Throughout a portion of its circumference, the disk I5 is supplied with a smooth track or cam l6, projecting a little way beyond the periphery of the wheel [4, the track having a considerable extent, circumferentially of the ratchet wheel [4. Throughout the remainder of its circumference, the disk [5 is provided with a spur gear H. A short post I8 is secured on the base plate I. A horizontal stub shaft [9 is secured in the post 18, and retains upon the post, an angle bracket 20, having an index 2| (Fig. 1). On the stub shaft I9 is mounted a rotatable means 22, under the control of an operator, and cooperating with the spur gear I! of the disk [5, to rotate the disk, and thereby to adjust the position of the track l5, circumferentially considered. The rotatable means 22 cooperates with the index 2|. The said means 22 need not be described in greater detail, since it is shown and explained in my Patent 2,237,851 of April 8, 1941, as is practically all of the mechanism hereinbefore described.

As the pawl |2 moves backwardly over the ratchet wheel I4, a noise is produced, in the absence of a silencing mechanism next to be described, the noise being regarded as objectionable by some users.

An extension 23 is saddled on the upper end of the post 3, and may be considered part thereof, the extension being held on the post by set screws 24, or in any other appropriate way. A cushion 25, made of rubber, leather or the like, is attached to one side of the post extension 23 by a retaining plate 26 and securing elements 21. An arcuate cam track 28 is disposed above the cushion 25. A short shaft 29 is secured to the intermediate portion of the cam track 28 and is held for rotation in the part 23. The shaft 29 does not divide the cam track 28 into arms of equal weight, the arm 30 being heavier than the other arm, so that the arm 30 tends to rest, by gravity, on the sounddeadening cushion 25, as shown in Fig. 5. The pawl i2 is provided with a lateral projection 3|. Noting Fig. 6, as the pawl I2 is advanced in the direction indicated by the arrow, the projection 3| on the pawl moves beneath the pivotally mounted cam track 28. As the pawl advances, the projection 3| raises'the arm 30 of the track off the cushion 25. The projection 3|, moving as indicated by the arrow, ultimately clears the end of the arm 30 of the cam track 28, and the arm 39 drops back noiselessly on the cushion 25. The arm 30 now is disposed below the projection 3| of the pawl, as shown in Fig. 5, and as the pawl moves in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5, the projection 3| rides over the upper surface of the cam track 28, the pawl |2 being lifted clear of the ratchet wheel l4, and no clicking noise being produced. Ultimately, the prolection 3| clears the left hand end of the cam track 28 in Fig. 6, and the c am track tilts to the position of Fig. 6, into contact with the cushion 25, the cycle being repeated.

A crank arm 32 is secured to the inner end of the shaft 9 and carries an elongated wrist pin 33-, whereon is pivoted a pitman 34, pivoted at 35 to the rod 36 of a piston 3'! which is movable through a gland 38 carried by the cylinder 39 of a liquid pump mounted on the base A supply tank 40 is supported from the base A conduit 4| leads from the tank 49 to an outwardly closing check valve structure 42 on the cylinder 39, a port 43 leading from the check valve structure to the bore of the cylinder. A port 44 leads from the bore of the cylinder 39 to an inwardly closing check valve structure 43| on the cylinder 39, and from the check valve structure, a conduit 46 leads to a main 41 disposed below the base I and adapted to carry the fluid to be treated, for example water.

The wrist pin 33- carries a pitman 48, which is pivoted at 4-9 to a piston rod 50, working through a gland in the end of an air pump cylinder 52, supported at 53 from the base I, the piston of the air pumpbei-ng marked by the numeral 54. The cylinder 52 is provided with an inwardly opening check valve 55. The cylinder 52 hasan outlet passage 5B, in which operates an outwardly openin check valve 51.- An air conduit 58 leads from the passage 56' and includes branches 59 and 60. A valve 6| under the control of an operator is interposed in the branch 59, the branch 60 has a corresponding valve 62. The branches 59 and 63, and attendant structure, will be discussed hereinafter.

A hollow guide 63 is supported at 64 from the base and has glands 65, through which the piston rod 59 works. The guide 63 is provided with a lower outlet pipe 66, leading to the main 41, the guide being providedvwith side closure plugs 61, making possible the use of additional outlets.

A rotary pump 68 is mounted on the base and the pum shaft is coupled at 69 to the shaft of the prime mover or motor 2. The intake of the rotary pump 68 is marked by the numeral 7|! and derives fluid from the main 41 before the fluid in the main has been treated by material derived either from the pipe 66 or from the conduit 4B. The outlet member for the pump 68 is designated by the numeral H, and discharges into the guide '86. A valve 12, under the control of an operator, is interposed in the pump outlet H.

To the guide 63 is fixed an upright standard 13, carrying a horizontal stud 14, supporting a hopper bracket 15. The hopper bracket 15 carries a hopper 16,. a spout 1'! being mounted on the bracket 15, below the hopper 16. A receptacle 18 is detachably connected at 19 to the standard 73. In the bottom of the receptacle T8 is located a dispensing mechanism 80, which need not be described in detail, because it may be of any desired construction. Let it suffice to state that the dispensing mechanism delivers a. measured charge of material downwardly into the hopper 16, the dispensing mechanism including a rotary member 8|, having outstanding fingers 82. The dispensing mechanism 80 is held for rotation within the receptacle 18,, by means of a central post 83, the upper end of th post merging into a spiral agitator 84, disposed about the post. When the dispensing mechanism 80 is rotated, the agitator 84 is rotated also, and the contents of the receptacle l8 will be loosened, so that it may feed downwardly without difficulty.

For the operation of the dispensing mechanism 80, there is provided a means actuated by and mounted upon the pitman 48. The actuating mechanism comprises an upright 85, fixed at its lower end upon the pitman. In the upper part of the member 85, a hook-shaped arm 86 is held by a setscrew 81, for longitudinal adjustment. The arm is adapted to cooperate with the fingers 82 of the rotatable member ill, to actuate the dispensing mechanism 80.

In its lower portion, the hopper bracket 15 is provided with an opening 98a, in vertical alinement with the spout 11. Above the opening 99a, the hopper bracket 15 is suppliedwith a transverse slot 89, defining a stop 99,. shown in Fig. 4-.

A gate 9| is located in the slot 89 of the hopper bracket 15 and is mounted to swing on a pivot element 92, carried by the bracket. The gate 9| has an opening 93, adapted to come into and out of registration with the Opening 98a in the bracket 15.

One end of a connecting rod 94 is mounted pivotally in the horizontally movable gate 3|. The piston rod 50 has a laterally offset arm 95,

I through which the connecting rod 94 is slidable.

Nuts 96 are threaded on the connecting rod- 94-,

for adjustment, the nuts being positioned to make contact with the arm 95. One end of a pull spring 91 is connected to the rod 94, the opposite end of the spring being anchored on the hopper 2,364,488 3 bracket 15. Whenthe arm 95 on the pitman.

59 moves away from the nuts 96 on the rod 94, the spring 91 restores the gate 9| to the closed position of Fig. 4, in abutment with the stop 96, the opening 93 in the gate being disposed out of registration with the opening 98a in the bracket The piston rod 56 serves also as a feeding means for material passing downwardly through the opening 98a in the hopper bracket 15, and with that end in view, the piston rod is provided with a transverse opening 98 for the reception of the discharged material. The guide or casing 63 has a projecting pin 99, on which is mounted a guard I09 which extends under the piston rod 59.and prevents material from dropping out of -the opening 98 in the piston rod.

Step by step rotation is imparted to ,the shaft 9 by a train of parts including the motor 2, the shafts 5 and 6 of the speed reduction gearing 4, the crank I, the pitman II, the pawl l2 and the ratchet wheel l4.

By means of the mechanism shown at 22 in Fig. 5 (and not new to this application) the operator can shift the track portion |6 of the disk I5 circumferentially with respect to the ratchet wheel l4, and with respect to the pawl l2. The pawl I2 is adapted to ride on the track l6, and the position of the track, considered relatively to the pawl, determines the number of impulses which the ratchet wheel l4 will receive, in any given time, from the pawl I2. The piston rod or feed slide 50, therefore, may be given any desired number of reciprocations per minute, as a time unit, and, noting the opening 98 in the slide 50, it will be understood that there will be a corresponding number of discharges of material as the slide 56 is reciprocated.

When the shaft 9 is rotated, motion is imparted to the piston rod 36 by parts including the crank arm 32 of the shaft 9, the wrist pin 33, and the pitman 34. The simple pump mechanism and the associated valve structure shown in the bottom portion of Fig. 1, requires no explanation. It will be clear that, when the piston 31 is reciprocated, liquid will be drawn from the tank 49 and be discharged by way of the pipe 46 into the main 41.

When the shaft 9 is rotated, the piston rod and feed slide 56 is reciprocated by way of the crank 32 and the pitman 48. Material located in the opening 98 of the feed slide 59 is advanced into the guide or casing 63 and enters the main 41 by way of the outlet pipe 66.

When the pitman 48 is operated, the hookshaped arm 86 on the upright 85 engages the fingers 82 on the rotary member 8| of the dis pensing mechanism 80, and the material in the receptacle 18 passes downwardly through the hopper 1.6, the tube 11 and the opening 93a of the hopper bracket 15, into the opening 96 of the slide 50, provided that the gate 9| is opened.

As the slide 50 is retracted, the arm 95 engages the nuts 96 and retracts the connecting rod 94, the gate 9| being swung on its pivotal mounting 92, to bring the opening 93 of the gate into axial alinement with the tube 11 and the opening 98a in the hopper bracket 15, an exit of the material from the hopper 16 into the opening 98 of the slide 59 thus being afforded. The material in the receptacle 18 may be pills, pellets or anything which the receptacle can handle, the receptacle being intended primarily, for holding material of dry constituency.

Sometimes the material discharged into' the casing 63, for passage through the pipe 66 may need an addition of water or other liquid, Under s ch circumstan e the valve 12 is opened, the

' pump 68 draws liquid from the main 41, by way' of the inlet 10, and the liquid is discharged into the casing 63, by way of the conduit 1|. The pump. 68 is a rotary pump and may be operated within reason if the valve 12 is closed, but it is possible to put the pump out of operation by slacking away the motor coupling 69. v

"The air pump 54--52 is operated by the slide or piston rod 50, and forces air through the conduit 58 and branch 59, the branch 59 discharging into the casing 63 when the valve 6| is opened. Thus, if the material proceeding downwardly from the casing 63 requires a mixture of air, air is supplied. If both air and water or other liquid are required, then the valves 6| and T2 are opened.

Air can be discharged through the branch 69 of the conduit 56, if the valve 62 is opened. The branch 69 preferably is free at one end, as shown in Fig. 1. The air proceeding through the branch 60 may be used for many purposes. The material discharged from the receptacle 18 may tend to collect moisture, and deposit moisture on the gate 9|, but the gate can be kept dry, or be dried off, by air discharged from the branch 69. Moreover, by swinging the gate 9| until the hole 93 is outside of the hopper bracket 15, the hole can be blown clean.

There is an advantage in stopping the downward movement of the material by means of the gate 9|. Owing to the fact that the material proceeding from the hopper 16 is held on the gate 9| until the opening 93 is brought into registration with the opening 98a, the material does not have far to fall (Fig. 3) before it enters the opening 98 of the slide 59. There is ample time, therefore, for a charge of material to drop into the opening 98 of the slide 50, and the opening 98 always receives a full charge. In connection with the foregoing explanation, it should be recalled that the slide 59 may be reciprocated at considerable speed.

The machine may be used for treating fluid of any kind, such as sewage, water, either potable or for delivery into a boiler, steam, or industrial waste. A fluid may be treated to render it sterile, or for the purpose of deodorization, and if the fluid is water, a softening operation may be accomplished. The uses mentioned are simply illustrative examples, and impose no restrictions on the use of the device.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a machine for treating fluids, a casing having an outlet for treating-material, a feed slide mounted for reciprocation in the casing and having a receiver external to the casing but entering the casing when the slide is reciprocated, a delivery member, means for so mounting the delivery member that it will discharge into the receiver when the slide is operated to dispose the receiver externally of the casing, a gate movably mounted on the delivery member and controlling the now to the receiver, spring means associated with the gate for closing the gate, a connection assembled with the gate, a part on the slide which receives the connection slidably, and means on the connection wherewith said part of the slide engages, to open the gate, means for operating the feed slide, and means for passing treating material into the: fluid to be treated, as the slide is reciprocated.

2.v In a machine for treating; fluids, the combination with a guide: having an outlet for directing treating material to the fluid to be treated, of means for holding treating material, said means having an outlet, a gate mounted. for: intermittent movement for releasing material through the 'outlet, reciprocating means' for conducting released material intermittently to: the guide, and separate means controlled by said re.- ciprocating means for actuating: the gate. and for directing air under pressure against the: gate, respectively.

3. In a machine for treating fluids, the combination with a guide having an outlet for directing treating material to the fluid to be treated; of a container for holding. treating material; said container having an outlet, a gate mounted: for intermittent movement across the outlet to intermittently release the treatingmaterial, a mem-- ber mounted for reciprocation for conveying treating material: from below the gate to' the termittently release the treating material, a.

member mounted for reciprocation for conveying treating material from below the. gate to the guide, and means controlled by said member for directing an air jet into the guide and onto the treating material delivered thereto, and for delivering a second jet intermittently onto the gate to maintain the gate dry and clean.

CLAIR V. SWEARINGEN. 

